Frandsen rescues Phillies in final at-bat

Philadelphia Phillies' Jimmy Rollins, right, steals second base ahead of the tag from Kansas City Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar during the third inning of a baseball game, Saturday, April 6, 2013, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

PHILADELPHIA -- The Phillies have gotten off to slow starts in recent years and made them long forgotten by October.

But when you are coming off a season that has many across the league speaking of your team’s fright factor in the past tense, losing four out of the first five would not have been a very healthy thing for the 2013 Phils.

After eight innings of utter listlessness, a wild Kansas City closer and Kevin Frandsen combined to erase two hours and 45 minutes of mind-numbing frustration with heavy-exhale elation.

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After Royals right-hander Greg Holland wildly walked the first three batters of the ninth, then struck out Dom Brown and John Mayberry Jr. to put the Phils on the brink of another loss, Frandsen jumped on a first-pitch fastball and drilled it into right-center field for a game-winning, three-run double, as the Phillies stole a 4-3 victory in front of a fraction of the fans who were at Citizens Bank Park when the game started.

It was a special moment for the utility infielder, who was in the majors to open a season for the first time since 2007. Frandsen’s parents were in town to celebrate the job he earned with an impressive second half with the Phils last season, and a cross-country trip that already was emotional grew exponentially as Ryan Howard led a stampede of teammates to second base to celebrate with the night’s hero.

“It’s a big moment for me and especially (his parents, Dave and Tracie) for all the stuff we’ve been through,” said Frandsen, who was coached by his father in high school. “It was a fun opportunity for them to see it and how the Philly fans are towards me. They love it here, coming out and seeing the passion everyone has.

“Yeah, I dodged (Howard). I saw Ben (Revere) coming first. He played the screen. I can handle Ben.”

The hit improved Frandsen’s career average in the pinch to .313 (15-for-48), and he has emerged as by far the Phils’ best option in those situations. Frandsen figured Holland would start him the way he started Brown and Mayberry -- a high fastball on the outside part of the plate. He knew he made good contact, but said he was so focused on keeping his head on the ball that he didn’t know exactly where he hit it at first.

“I don’t think there are too many closers where you think, ‘Oh yeah, I got him,’” Frandsen said. “...as a pinch hitter you only feel like you’re going to get one pitch and if he makes a mistake, you have to get it. I don’t even know if it was a mistake, I haven’t looked at it.”

Frandsen’s hit was just the third of the night for the Phils (2-3), who were coming off a game in which they were held hitless for the final six innings. It was badly needed.

That hit gave Antonio Bastardo the win after he pitched a scoreless top of the ninth and kept it at 3-1. It also showed that a starting pitcher who keeps the Phils in the game can see that work rewarded.

John Lannan’s start was strangely similar to Kyle Kendrick’s the prior evening -- except without all those silly “early runs” by the Phillies.

The left-hander’s first turn through the Royals’ lineup was sparkling, with six groundouts and three strikeouts. Chase Utley booted an Alex Gordon grounder to open the fourth and end the perfect game. Then Lannan plunked Lorenzo Cain to start the fifth inning and had his no-hitter wrecked by Jeff Francoeur, who entered the night hitting .540 (13-for-25) lifetime against the lefty, when he doubled into the left-field corner. The shutout went away when Miguel Tejada tapped an RBI groundout, and the Royals made it 2-0 on an RBI single to center by Elliot Johnson.

The Phillies pushed a run across in the bottom of the fifth when a John Mayberry walk and a sacrifice bunt by Lannan led to an RBI single by Ben Revere. However, the Royals got another run in the seventh, again fueled by a Francouer hit off Lannan.

Still, the left-hander’s debut with the Phils was solid -- seven innings, three runs, a lot of ground balls.

He even stuck around to see the conclusion.

“I was in the dugout,” Lannan said. “I try to stay out there. You never know with this team. Good things can happen.”

Lannan’s performance certainly helped a slumbering offense believe it had a shot once Holland walked Utley, Howard and Michael Young in succession -- although it seemed the Phils might be teasing the crowd when Brown and Mayberry went down pathetically.

In the end, Frandsen had a gift for Charlie Manuel.

“As a pinch hitter, it’s a huge team at-bat,” Frandsen said. “There’s not too many times you go up there thinking ‘Oh, I need a hit for myself.’ Pinch hitting’s about getting a hit for the team and getting on base for whoever is down there or driving guys in to win a game or start a rally. Usually the pinch hitter is a guy going up there for the opportunity to help out.

“It’s a (big) win, especially in front of these fans. They are here every night. You don’t want to start the year 0-2 at home, especially with the energy they bring.”